There was pandemonium at Ogbagi-Akoko, in the Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State last Friday when youths of the town chased away their monarch, the Owa of Ogbagi, Oba Victor Adetona, from the palace for his refusal to approve the yearly celebration of the Ogun festival.

Our correspondent learnt that the monarch, narrowly escaped being lynched when the youth, armed with dangerous items, besieged the palace.

The youth, it was learnt, damaged vehicles and decorations in the palace said to be worth millions of naira.

Some of the youth, who craved anonymity, told our correspondent on Monday that Adetona had been disrespecting the town’s traditions since he was installed as the monarch.

One of them said, “Our king has not been respecting our traditions. He has refused to join the Awo cult. He has refused to marry another wife after he became the king; and he has consistently refused to approve the celebration of some traditional festivities.

“He has flagrantly objected to all pleas for him to respect traditions and the culture of our people and has vowed that as a born-again Christian, he will never indulge in or encourage such traditional rites throughout his reign.”

It was learnt that the monarch allegedly travelled out of the state in order not to partake in the worship of the Ogun festival.

The youth, however, monitored his movement and stormed his new palace when he returned from his journey and destroyed everything on sight.

It was further learnt that other monarchs who were with him on the fateful day, saved the situation as the youth allegedly insisted on killing Adetona.

At the palace gate, the monarch pasted the membership emblem of the Redeemed Christian Church of God while there is a place where members of his church congregate every Sunday evening for fellowship.

Some of the monarch’s family members, who conducted our correspondent round the damaged palace on Monday, said the grouse of the youth was Adetona’s refusal to engage in idolatry and marry a new wife when he ascended the throne.

When asked to comment on the incident, the monarch simply said on the phone, “It is not yet time to comment on the issue”

The Ojumu of Ogbagi, who is also the second-in-command to the monarch, Chief Richard Balogun, said there were six monarchs in the palace to welcome Adetona back from his journey when the youth besieged the palace.

He said the monarchs appealed to the youth to sheathe their swords and they agreed by returning to their homes.

Balogun said, “However, news flied around that Ogbagi was boiling, hence policemen were drafted from Ikare and when they arrived, they started shooting sporadically.

“The youths were not happy. They thought that it was the monarch who brought in the security men to arrest and shoot them. They mobilised themselves after the policemen had gone, marched to the palace and carried out the wanton destruction.”

Balogun said the grouse of the youth was that the king was not around during the celebration of the festival.

He said, “Many important personalities including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, and other prominent political leaders, royal fathers and religious leaders had already intervened.

“The youth had agreed that the monarch should return to the palace. We are meeting everyday over the matter and I believe that it will be resolved before the end of this week.”

k2039: The youth did the right thing(if he knew he wasnt going to oblige to traditional event,he shouldnt have taken the post(give unto ceaser what belongs to ceaser))

Ayomax: u guys are yet to answer my question, wht abt born again kings we have in the bible? they were king and they served only one God. shey dey get two heads ni?

Ayomax:
well I do disagree with you to some extend. don't we have kings tht were born again in the bible? king David n co?

dvdon: If all nigerian youths can be like dis guys we won't have curropt leaders anymore

Ayomax: I school in akungba akoko,which is close to ogbagi. so I'm nt suprise with the news coz Youths of Ogbagi-Akoko can do anything for their tradition.

SlyIg: Is it by force for him to be the king? The church preaches that these set of people should shun all traditional honour and awards so that they won't fall victims of this traditional idols worship but they wont listen. One who is there at that throne must carry out all those traditional rites,so he should better respect himself and quit the throne. How can he be carrying things in the two hands to climb a ladder! Serving two masters at a time,that's not christianity!

Vincent 4:

dem for Kill u.......idot

pappy2000:

You ar very stupi.d. So you tell me that it is bad to pratice one faith,the question is that those who are fighting now are justified,what has the so called tradition rite brought to them,the man is trying to liberate them from the shackle of darkness. I am sure you are als an ogbanje

musKeeto:
You foool, was David an African? And how was he even born-again? Abi David give im lyf to that robber Christ? Why drop your traditions/beliefs for some stupid David that has never affected your life one bit?
The kind of reasoning among Africans sef...

obalolaunited:

Muskeeto you dnt ♓A̶̲̥̅√ε to take it that far he is only asking an honest question pls let's always show some sense of maturity and humility thank you and God bless you

1 shortblackboy: And wetin our stvpid traditions and dead gods don profit us ? Yet dem dey carry tradition for head....rubbbish

musKeeto:
You foool, was David an African? And how was he even born-again? Abi David give im lyf to that robber Christ? Why drop your traditions/beliefs for some stupid David that has never affected your life one bit?
The kind of reasoning among Africans sef...

Ayomax: u guys are yet to answer my question, wht abt born again kings we have in the bible? they were king and they served only one God. shey dey get two heads ni?

musKeeto:
Lol.. what darkness? To another darkness? Where you worship another man's God? Lol..

inquisitiv: The gods and traditions of Africa kept us in our wallowing and backward state when other cultures were developing and some ppl r here talking culture.

Hence, our inability to get rid of wat needs to go. Those cowardly youths should pursue local government officials who are stealing their future dry than attack a man who has the moral convictions to stand for wat he believes in.

And for those saying, if u can't do the rituals then don't be king. Rubbish! So if u embezzle public funds then don't be a governor.

Misguided youths fighting for the wrong reason. Meanwhile this is palace politics. Someone else what's to be king. They should have tried to hurt him and they will know wat the inside of nigerian prisons look like. Nonsense.

musKeeto:
Lol.. what darkness? To another darkness? Where you worship another man's God? Lol..

pappy2000:
Your thinking is pervert I won't reply u again